Crocker is back in the playoffs.
For the first time since the controversial 2013 quarterfinal loss to Crane, the Lady Lions are the Class 2 – District 9 champions, topping Hartville 44-30 on Thursday night at Laquey High School.
“This means everything,” said Crocker senior Kelsi York. “We’ve worked so hard since freshman year to get back here. The seniors this year kind of took the younger players under our wings and stressed working hard and what it takes to get there. This is the first step.”
After building a 20-12 halftime lead, York scored eight of Crocker’s 10 third quarter points, all coming on mid-range jumpers, to offset a barrage of 3s from Hartville. Classmate Lindsay Medlin countered with eight of her game-high 18 points coming in the fourth quarter to help put Hartville away for good.
“They are awesome to coach because no matter what you know those two are going to step up and do whatever it takes to win,” said Crocker coach Nancy Ward. “They play with so much confidence. Kelsi had a huge third quarter and really camp up big. She wasn’t shooting well from 3 so she went to her mid-range game and got hot there for us.”
While the two seniors carried Crocker on the offensive end, it was an underclassman that swung the game’s momentum.
Junior Saffron Lancaster didn’t score a single point, but was able to hold Hartville’s Sadie Chisum to just 10 points for the game, with just three of those coming after the first quarter.
The Lady Eagles struggled to find good offense, scoring just 21 points in the game’s final 24 minutes and never led following Crocker guard Sadie Bomar's 3 late in the first quarter, giving Crocker a 10-9 advantage.
The only other teams to hold Hartville to fewer points this season were Class 4 Rogersville and Class 2 No. 2 Gainesville.
“She really stepped up for us,” said Ward. “She is a great defender and has a lot of quickness; she stays on balance and does a good job with the scouting report and knowing what we want to take away and what we can give up. She did an excellent job on Sadie tonight.”
It now becomes a waiting game for Crocker.
The Lady Lions will take on the Class 2 – District 10 winner in Wednesday’s Class 2 sectional at Lebanon.
The two finalists, Gainesville and Norwood, have been two of the best teams in the Ozarks. Gainesville’s lone loss came to Crane and Norwood’s five losses came against Gainesville and Hartville twice, as well as Class 3 Houston.
“It’s about surviving and advancing at this time of the year and who we play doesn’t matter, it’s all about preparation,” said Ward. “Both teams are tough, we’ll go watch them play Saturday and we’ve seen them play a few times this season already, but hopefully we’ll be ready.”
Crocker 44, Hartville 30
Hartville 9-3-12-6 – 30
Crocker 10-10-10-14 – 44
Hartville: S. Chisum 10, E. Chisum 8, Hardcastle 6, Divine 3, Still 3.
Crocker: Medlen 18, York 12, Bomar 6, K. Connell 4, M. Connell 2, Knifong 1, Wilson 1.
